Ethical Hacking News
A recent botnet attack attributed to the Mirai variant of malware has hit 28 countries, infecting millions of IoT devices across various industries and continents. The attack, known as ShadowV2, is believed to have originated from a single command-and-control server and exploited device vulnerabilities to deliver malware. The incident highlights the ongoing threat of cloud-based cyber attacks and underscores the need for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity and invest in robust security measures.
ShadowV2 botnet launched devastating DDoS attack on 28 countries after taking advantage of recent AWS outage. The attack is believed to have infected millions of IoT devices across various industries and continents. Fortinet's FortiGuard Labs detected the ShadowV2 botnet emerging during last October's widespread AWS outage, infecting vulnerable gear to form a zombie army of IoT devices. The malware allows an attacker to remotely control network equipment and perform large-scale attacks, including DDoS traffic-flooding events.
In a chilling reminder of the ever-present threat of cyber attacks, a botnet known as ShadowV2 has taken advantage of the recent AWS outage to launch a devastating Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack against 28 countries. The attack, which has been attributed to the Mirai variant of malware, is believed to have infected millions of IoT devices across various industries and continents.
According to Fortinet's FortiGuard Labs, the ShadowV2 botnet emerged during last October's widespread AWS outage, infecting vulnerable gear to form a zombie army of IoT devices. The malware allows an attacker to remotely control the network of equipment and perform large-scale attacks, including DDoS traffic-flooding events.
The attack is believed to have originated from a single command-and-control server, with attackers exploiting device vulnerabilities to drop a downloader script that delivered ShadowV2 malware. The malware, which was designed specifically for IoT devices, displays a string "ShadowV2 Build v1.0.0 IoT version" when executing, suggesting that it may be the first version of the malware developed for IoT devices.
While the attack only occurred during the AWS outage, Fortinet has warned that ShadowV2 reveals that IoT devices remain a weak link in the broader cybersecurity landscape. The company has also published a comprehensive list of indicators of compromise to assist with threat hunting and identify potential vulnerabilities.
The recent botnet attack is just the latest example of the growing threat of IoT-based malware. In September, the ShadowV2 botnet targeted AWS EC2 instances, highlighting the vulnerability of cloud-based services to cyber attacks. The emergence of ShadowV2 serves as a reminder for organizations to secure their IoT devices, update firmware, and monitor for unusual and spammy network traffic.
The attack has also highlighted the importance of cybersecurity awareness and preparedness. As Fortinet's Vincent Li noted, "ShadowV2 reveals that IoT devices remain a weak link in the broader cybersecurity landscape." The incident underscores the need for organizations to prioritize IoT security and invest in measures to protect against such threats.
In addition to the botnet attack, Microsoft recently reported that Azure was hit by the largest-ever cloud-based DDoS attack, originating from the Aisuru botnet and measuring 15.72 terabits per second (Tbps). The attack was mitigated by Microsoft's cloud DDoS protection service, but highlights the ongoing threat of cloud-based cyber attacks.
The incident serves as a wake-up call for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity and take proactive measures to protect against such threats. As the use of IoT devices continues to grow, so too does the risk of cyber attacks. It is essential that organizations invest in robust security measures and stay vigilant in their efforts to protect against emerging threats like ShadowV2.
In conclusion, the recent botnet attack attributed to ShadowV2 serves as a reminder of the ever-present threat of cyber attacks. The incident highlights the vulnerability of IoT devices and underscores the need for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity and invest in robust security measures. As the use of IoT devices continues to grow, so too does the risk of cyber attacks, making it essential that organizations stay vigilant and proactive in their efforts to protect against emerging threats like ShadowV2.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/AWS-Outage-Fuels-Botnet-Threat-28-Countries-Hit-by-ShadowV2-Mirai-Variant-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/11/26/miraibased_botnet_shadowv2/
https://cybernews.com/security/aws-outage-may-trigger-surge-in-phishing-attacks/
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/amazon-web-services-outage-october-20-2025/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirai_(malware)
https://echoxec.com/mirai-malware-in-2025-variant-behavior-exploit-chains-and-mitigation-insights
Published: Wed Nov 26 13:03:48 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
